Normally, these posts begin with this: “Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon?” Well, today is a bit of an exception, because it’s actually a two-star review. But when you figure out the book, you’ll see why I couldn’t pass this one up. So here we […]

“I am Fly. Maximillian Fly. I am a good creature. I am not bad, as some will tell you.” Considering that Maximillian is a human/cockroach hybrid of sorts, this is not particularly surprising news. Meet the dystopian/Steampunk/action adventure novel that's like nothing you've ever read before.

This Week at TLT Book Review: Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson Book Review: Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan Cindy Crushes Programming: Find a Good Book with Miss Cindy Writing Myself a New Story, a guest post by Jasmine Warga Teen Services 101: Serving Teens, Challenges and Rewards Around the Web […]

"It's almost as if he grew a tree in a garden and didn't allow any of the leaves to grow on it at all, it's just the bare bones of a tree, and asked me to come in and decorate the tree. But without that strength of that tree, nothing would hold up on it." LeUyen Pham and Victoria Stapleton talk about the fabulous picture book Bear Came Along.

One of the books I mentioned in my SLJ article First-Person Graphic Memoirs Bring Events to Life for Students is Brigitte Findakly and Lewis Trondheim’s Poppies of Iraq, a collection of anecdotes about Findakly’s childhood in Iraq as the daughter of a French mother and an Iraqi father. Findakly wrote and colored the book, and […]

Towards the end of the year I like to look at the circulation stats and see if anything unexpected pops up. Amid the swarms of Pilkey, Renee Russell, and Willems, a few books that I didn’t expect got checked out a whole lot this school year. Here they are, along with my guesses on why […]

When an illustrator is making a visit to a library, it is customary for the children's librarians to provide large easels and pieces of paper upon which the creator might draw something. Then, I have no doubt, many librarians save these sketches. But how old is this practice?

Colby: I had a blast interviewing Ashley Herring Blake at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference. It is always interesting when I meet someone through an interview for The Yarn. I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I enjoyed getting to know Ashley.

With all these unicorns prancing through children’s books, you’d almost think they were real. Oh, sorry, spoiler alert. I’f you’re looking to boost the unicorn ranks on your shelves, look no further, because below are all the ‘corn books 2019 has to offer. Any to add? Let me know in the comments.

There’s a new book out about children’s literature legend Margaret Wise Brown. Today I talk with the author, Mac Barnett, and the illustrator, Sarah Jacoby, about how this book came to together. First up, Mr. Barnett Hi Mac! Margaret Wise Brown. MWB. When did it first occur to you that you should write a bio […]

"It's like the Where's Waldo of literature!" This week we're celebrating another cult classic picture book just as its author releases his adult collection MacDoodle Street. It fails the stranger danger test magnificently, sure, but we can all get behind its "inspired sense of the absurd."

Offering hope for a more socially conscious, kinder tomorrow, New Kid should be required reading for every middle schooler before the start of every school year. The latest lesson plan from "The Classroom Bookshelf."

Our Saturday preview this week is of a new trade paperback, Archie’s Superteens, which is a crossover between the two superhero teams in the Archie universe: The Riverdale gang as Pureheart the Poweful et al. and the Mighty Crusaders. This volume collects the two-volume crossover as well as more Pureheart stories. It goes on sale […]

This Week at TLT Book Review: I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver Book Review: The Missing Season by Gillian French Teen Services 101: What Do Teens Want from Public Libraries? Book Review: Road Tripped by Pete Hautman Teen Services 101: Foundations – Understanding Teens Today Around the Web A Decade of LGBTQ […]

Every once in a while, I sneak over to the Goodreads Mock Newbery and Caldecott lists to see what books are getting attention. While the lists are open to voting by any Goodreads user (so DEFINITELY take them with a grain of salt), they are sometimes fairly accurate (although the 2019 Caldecott list didn’t fare […]

The Lion Forge Free Comic Book Day giveaway comic contains a new story by Brenna Thummler with the same characters as her graphic novel Sheets. In A Sheets Story, Marjorie, her father, and her younger brother visit her grandmother, who wants to sew with her. Her ghost friend Wendell has tagged along as well. It’s […]

Today I look at an infinitely gentle take on the feelings we lug around inside of ourselves and why we don’t have to always lug them on our own. Maybe Tomorrow? is, at its heart, about how to be a good friend. A seemingly simple lesson for a deeply complex world.

Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? I sat through enough pee and poop references without flinching until page 129 where one officer holds up a pile of poop in his hand and then another officer instinctively high-fives the hand full of poop creating a huge […]

This heartfelt story about a nonbinary teen will empower readers. Ben's journey is not always easy, but it is full of love, affirmation, and eventual happiness. This story, this representation, this example is so needed.

Popularity comes, popularity goes. As librarians we’re always balancing between what will circulate like crazy and what we need to have in the collection. And we’re not the Library of Congress – we can’t (and shouldn’t) keep everything. An endangered series is one that appears to be waning in terms of popularity. But popularity isn’t everything. Should it […]

Wrack my brain though I have, I can't think of a picture book that specifically discusses the mispronunciation of the protagonist's name. I mean, we've had lots of name-related picture books. My Name Is Yoon. Chrysanthemum. The Name Jar. Alma. But about the way you say it specifically? Hmmm.

Here’s an advance look at Teen Titans Go #34: The Titans get swept up in a 73-hour dystopian teen movie marathon, then reenact “The Hungry Games” when they realize there’s only one slice of pizza left! And when a meatball-making contest sponsored by a local Jump City joint (first prize: free heroes for life!) provokes […]

I always like a good road trip book. Stiggy sets off on his own, but spends the majority of his trip meeting people who both literally and metaphorically make him change course. Hand this to readers who like stories with strong (and sometimes not necessarily super likable) characters.

Archie Giant Comics Gala is one of those hefty Archie books stuffed with 400 pages of stories. This one is brand new, and our preview includes a complete classic story. Look for the book in comic shops on Wednesday. Enjoy!

"Folktales! They don't end the way you expect 'em to . . . if they're authentic." We might have quite a debate over what the oldest #ownvoices picture book published in America is, that is arguably famous to this day, and that also is written by someone who wasn't white and European. My vote goes to today's book circa 1932.

With rich sensory language and colorful comic style-illustration, award-winning author illustrator team Isabel Quintero and Zeke Pena celebrate Latinx culture, family, community and the thrill of a motorcycle ride in their latest picture book collaboration.

This Week at TLT Post-It Note Reviews: Books for younger readers featuring graphic novels, a handbook for being awesome, middle school woes, and interdimensional demon-slaying Book Review: The Haunted by Danielle Vega Cindy Crushes Programming: Cindy’s Favorite Tabletop Games Dear Society: Sheltering Teenagers Helps No One (Thoughts from a Young Adult), a guest post by […]

Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? what was the moral of it? “Don’t eat before you sow?” “Never lose sight of your mother?” “If a bear follows you don’t panic but talk to it?” “Berries will help you survive the winter?” Click here for the […]

The ideal use of great writing without cheating. Filled with facts and backmatter, it also makes the subject interesting to kids. It’s beautiful to look at and while I would have made some changes, it stands as a pretty darn good look at a man, a plan, a crayon. Crayola.

PICTURE BOOKS ARE SHOCKINGLY GREAT I love them too, kid. I love them too. I CAN PLAY THE TUBA Ann Patchett, well-known for her books for adults, has written a picture book. I’m always fascinated to hear how authors who write for grown-ups end up writing for kids. Patchett’s story begins with a chance encounter […]

Who would be your Top Five aspirational blurbees? The five people you'd like to receive blurbs from for your books. They wouldn't have to work in the children's book field, necessarily. It would just be neat if they said something nice about your book.

Publisher’s Book Description: From Danielle Vega, YA’s answer to Stephen King, comes a new paranormal novel about dark family secrets, deep-seated vengeance, and the horrifying truth that evil often lurks in the unlikeliest of places. Hendricks Becker-O’Malley is new in town, and she’s bringing baggage with her. With a dark and wild past, Hendricks doesn’t […]

“When you look toward the stars, do you wonder if anyone is looking back? Is Earth the only planet with intelligent life? Is it the only planet with life at all?” Curtis Manley’s new nonfiction picturebook, Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, tackles these complex wonderings with aplomb through the existence of exoplanets—that is, extrasolar planets that orbit the countless stars across the universe.

When I left school on Friday, I was on top of the world. I had just received official word from the publisher that The Very Last Castle had reached the #1 spot . . . . . . of my school library. Suddenly, I noticed I was holding my head a little higher. My chest, […]

Curation is one of our Shared Foundations. It is also identified as a leadership area on the Future Ready Librarians Framework. But what does it look like when the school librarian really dives into digital curation? And what does it look like when the librarian, armed with a rich OER toolkit, regularly curates urgently needed, […]

Ramona's not the only one calling aspects of Mike Mulligan into question anymore. This is a tale of "a man obsessed with his steam shovel," as well as muffs, dabbing, how precisely a steam shovel would work, and the weird placement of the acknowledgement to Dickie Birkinbush, mid-book.

I wanted to make sure that everyone sees TLTer Amanda MacGregor’s presentation at Twin Cities Teen Lit Con on Social Justice and Activism in YA Lit. You can view her slides and such over at her personal blog: https://amandamacgregor.net/2019/04/28/twin-cities-teen-lit-con-2019-social-justice-and-activism-in-ya-literature/ You may also want to check out our year long focus on Social Justice in YA […]

We’re kicking off this spring week with some chilly news: Dark Horse has two new graphic novels based on the Disney film Frozen. Cecil Castellucci has penned a retelling of the film from the points of view of Anna and Elsa in Disney Frozen YA Retelling, which is due out on October 1. In case […]

Curation is one of our Shared Foundations. It is also identified as a leadership area on the Future Ready Librarians Framework. But what does it look like when the school librarian really dives into digital curation? And what does it look like when the librarian, armed with a rich OER toolkit, regularly curates urgently needed, […]

Dear Heavy Medal Readers, we hope you have discovered many worthy titles thus far, please – Suggest books that might have a chance to contend for the Newbery. A Suggestion means: “this could be a contender, maybe…”, but doesn’t have to mean: “This is definitely a top Newbery possibility.” – Please only suggest eligible books. […]

It’s preview time! Today we have a look at B(etty) & V(eronica) Friends Jumbo Comics Digest #270, with a glimpse of the new lead story and a full classic story as well. The digest will be out on May 8. Enjoy!

My friend Jennifer LaGarde (@jenniferlagarde) recently introduced me, and our Young Adults Reading and Literacy students at Rutgers, to the idea of Book Bentos. Highly visual, creative and interactive the book bento strategy invites book lovers to create, hyperlink and share book titles in an artfully arranged interactive collage. I asked Jennifer to fill me […]

Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? I admit – I’ve given up. It’s back at the library, unfinished yet again. Clearly this is not my cup of tea – no offense, Bilbo. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click here. Previously […]

This Week at TLT Sunday Reflections: How Misuse of the 40 Book Challenge Made My Kid Hate Reading and Why (& How) I Pushed Back Teen Services 101: I’m just getting started with teen services, what do I need to succeed? Book Review: Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan Book Review: Love from A to […]

HOW YOU GET SMART By reading children’s nonfiction, of course (side note: A Fuse #8 Production been telling us this for years). The proof? The guy who’s on the most lucrative Jeopardy hot streak in history. Click here to read. DO YOU LIKE CASE COVERS? Mel at Let’s Talk Picture Books has added to her […]

HOW YOU GET SMART By reading children’s nonfiction, of course (side note: A Fuse #8 Production been telling us this for years). The proof? The guy who’s on the most lucrative Jeopardy hot streak in history. Click here to read. DO YOU LIKE CASE COVERS? Mel at Let’s Talk Picture Books has added to her […]

In April . . . . . . we looked at new books from past award winners. What are previous Geisel, Sibert,Pura Belpre, and Coretta Scott King award winners up to in 2019? . . . I gave you a challenge. Can you name the book based on a student drawing? . . . we […]

With Trace, Ms. Cummings takes time to examine what we owe our ancestors, even as we try to live our daily lives. We live with their decisions, whether we want to or not, and sometimes we relive their mistakes. This is a ghost story that asks you to stop and listen to the voices that are dead but not gone. Who are the ghosts that haunt your story? And what are they trying to tell you?

DC's new Zoom line for young readers kicks off with Ridley Pearson and Ile Gonzalez's Super Sons: The Polarshield Project. We spoke to Pearson about how the sons of Superman and Batman came to battle the effects of climate change.

Don’t look now, but writing longhand is making a comeback (or maybe it never left?). So, people interested in the hand-written word, I made this guide for you. A straightforward list of common editor’s marks and what they mean. I think that’s all of them. I hope this was helpful!

Many of us know that Kay Thompson based the character of Eloise on a stage persona she'd once performed in nightclubs. But were you aware of Fanny Brice's similar character from decades before Eloise's appearance? I examine the relationship between these two "little girls".

Lou is determined to make this summer the best one ever and she has just the plan to do it. It's not a great plan. It's not even a good one. In fact, it's pretty terrible. Will her scheming bring her closer to her crush or obliterate her most important relationship?

Here’s another preview for this Monday morning: Archie’s Big Book, vol. 6. This volume collects the “Freshman Year” stories, which are sort of an origin story for the Riverdale gang, as well as the “Clash of the New Kids” storyline and some other stories. The book will be out on May 1. Enjoy!

1 of the most frequently asked questions I receive is: How do I get started doing teen services? Here's an outline of what I think are the basic building blocks of a successful teen services program in a public library.

There are so many things to talk about here. Spontaneous interior canine generation. The doctor's disappearing/reappearing latex gloves. Why no one assumes that there isn't another dog inside of George at the end. Whether or not George has eaten the vet at the end. And then I get into a whole thing about how this book isn't about Death but Rebirth!!

Thing 2, age 10, started the 4th grade this year. We already knew she was behind in reading as she had been diagnosed with dyslexia and given a 504 plan to provide her with accommodations. I had fought tooth and nail in the K, 1st and 2nd grade to get her diagnosed and on track, […]

Travis: It was a pleasure to sit down with Minh Lê and talk about how his book with Dan Santat, Drawn Together, came to be. In this episode Minh talks about how the story was born in a 3:00 am brainstorming session with a fussy baby, and how the language barrier between the main characters […]

This Week at TLT Read Wild: Nature Deficit Disorder and its implications for teens New books alert: A nonbinary teen, sisters having an epic day, a reimagining of The Little Mermaid, and so much more! Read Wild: Award Winning Books About Nature and Why We Need Them Cindy Crushes Programming: Tile Art Read Wild: Hosting […]

Can you guess the classic children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads or Amazon? Reading this story to a really young child might confuse them because a “wump” and a “gox” are not real things. Click here for the answer. Why do I share these? Click here. Previously . . . One Star […]

Though I read these volumes out of order, I really enjoyed the stories. This series is quite different than my “normal” reading, but I’m always thrilled when I can enjoy a title that will be a perfect fit for the boys who come to the library. (And girls too… But this will be an easy sell to the boys.)

If you received your latest issue of Booklist in the mail then you might have noticed that its editors got together and created nothing less than the 50 Best Middle-Grade Novels of the 21st Century. I substitute some of their choices for my own for fun.